The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-08-31
AN INDIAN UPRISING.
Colorado Utes Under Chief Col
GROW On the Warpath.
Several Skirmishes, and State Mil
itary Ordered Out.

Chief Colorow, noted Ute Indian Chief,
recently abandoned his reservation IN COLO
RADIO, and gathering band OF about eighty
followers went on the warpath. The cattle
men and ranch owners were greatly alarmed,
and force of about sixty men under Sheriff.
Kendall went in pursuit of the Utes. Many
of the ranches and exposed residences were
abandoned, their occupants fleeing to the
nearest towns A Meeker (Col) dispatch
SAYS:
The citizens of Garfield county are all
wrought to the highest point of excitement
over the fact that the whole White River
country is swarming with Indians, and that
an attack by them is imminent in all OF the
ranches lying away from Meeker.
The first intelligence of the serious turn OF
affairs was obtained by correspondent near
the Milk River trail, about eight miles above
the Adjutant Generals courier, returning
from the Martin ranch, twenty miles away,
and from him obtained the following:
~ left Glen Wood Springs on Sunday
morning at twenty minutes past ten O'CLOCK
and rode down Grand Elk Creek striking up
the Rifle and going over all old Ute trall 10
Meeker, where / arrived just seven houlS
starting. At Meeker l gave the de-
snatch sent by General West to Commissioner
Gregory, who employed Commissioner Nc
Neill to carry the reply. The people OF
Meeker We're very much excited, and the
long absence of Kendall caused great anxiety
1 remained at Meeker until seven o'clock
last night, being undecided as to the best
route to take to find Kendall. Senator EDDY
came in at seven o'clock from his ranch on
Axial Basin and reported that Sheriff
Kendall and fourteen men were at Frank
Martins ranch on Milk River, within half
mile of Thornburg battlefield. He said that
some of Kendall's men had deserted him.
'As soon as l heard this l Immediately
saddled my horse and started for Martins
ranch, which is twenty miles northwest OF
Meeker l reached there at 10 o'clock ana
found Kendall. He was in good spir-
it's and was accompanied by only
fourteen men. He said that thirty-tive
men had left him at Williams Fork, the
day before, and that he had two skirmlsheS
with the Indians, ,one on Saturday and one on
Sunday The fight Oh Saturday resulted, ne
believed, in the wounding of two Indians. c'ne
white man had his horse shot from under him.
The two parties encanlped within couple OF
miles of each Other all night On Sunday
morning the Indians again came up and
opened fire. This drew the Sheriff's party
out from the hills toward Williams River.
1.-THE fight continued for about an hour.
One Indian fell from his horse, and Ken.
dali thinks it was Eeny, the outlaw son OF
Colorow. 1t is certain, however, that one
Indian, whoever he was, dropped from
his horse dead. He was also said by Alfred
Corkel to be Eeny, he having sold Eeny
horse as a racer last summer. The Indians
then numbered about sixty, and kendallS
force was abont the same number. The
Indians were only part OF the band, and
TSev Ta cS9sew hesGd pSs bS EsH Een 'e Sus
after this thirty-fve men in the Ken
dali posse became dissatisfied with his
arrangement and left him. The Indians
had then drawn off into the hills. Thirty
five men left Kendalls camp and
went down North Fork. White and
Kendall and fourteen men remained in
camp When the thirty-five, headed by Phil
Foote, had gone about m lie, Indians fol-
lowed them closely and fired at them. They
took the Foote outfit for the whole party:
Sheriff Kendall, attracted by shots, gathered
his men and rode after them He closed IN
behind the Indians and opened fire, and the
Utes Immediately cut out from pursuit anc
went under GOVERN the hills"
From best information at hand it looks as
if the appeal of Colorow to the young bucks
at the agencies had been successful, and that
he has obtained as many more warriors as ne
numbered in his original band. This will
make his force amount to about two hundred
Indians They are divided into three groups,
and will probably occupy day In getting
together.
Colorow is supposed to be in the hills be
tween Meeker and Williams Fork; Eeny's
wing is on Milk River and the third party,
composing the reinforcements, are on Bear
River Colorow is not going back to the res
ervation, and his attitude means fight.
In response to dispatches Governor Adams
ordered out cavalry companies from Denver,
Colorado Springs, Canyon City, Leadville
and Asher. The orders to all these COM
panies were to start for the front at once TO
assist Sheriff Kendall in serving his civil
process.
Governor Adams telegraphed to General
Crook at Omaha that the situation was be-
coming serious, and he urged that steps be
taken by the War Department to protect the
settlers. The Governors dispatch to the Cen
eral detailed the situation, and stated that
the State of Colorado would see that Sheriff
Kendall's processes were served.